Previewing the 2020 UGA football schedule

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UPDATE: Given the ongoing public health concerns relating to coronavirus (COVID-19), the G-Day scrimmage has unfortunately been canceled. We join Bulldog Nation in our disappointment and hope Dawg fans will understand the Athletic Association’s desire to protect fans, staff, and student athletes. For any Alumni Association questions relating to coronavirus (COVID-19), please refer to our FAQ.

The Georgia Bulldogs’ 2020 schedule is a unique one, complete with a season kickoff in Atlanta, a trip to Tuscaloosa and a mid-season renewal of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Since the close of the 2019 season, the Dawgs have claimed another top-flight class of recruits, numerous veteran defensive players elected to return rather than head to the NFL, and Todd Monken joined the fold as Georgia’s new offensive coordinator, a sign that UGA’s offense could be ready to take flight.

Let’s take an early look at the teams facing Kirby Smart’s fifth Bulldogs squad.

2020 Georgia Bulldogs Football Schedule

*Bold indicates home game

9/07 – Virginia Cavaliers
9/12 – ETSU Buccaneers
9/19 – Alabama Crimson Tide
9/26 – ULM Warhawks
10/3 – Vanderbilt Commodores
10/10 – Auburn Tigers
10/17 – Missouri Tigers
10/24 – BYE WEEK
10/31 –Florida Gators
11/7 – South Carolina Gamecocks
11/14 – Tennessee Volunteers
11/21 – Kentucky Wildcats
11/28 – Georgia Tech

University of Virginia

Virginia Cavaliers - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Monday, September 7, 2020
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA

Two division champions square off when the SEC East champion Dawgs meet the ACC Coastal champion Cavaliers to kick off the 2020 college football season. When the Wahoos come to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it will be the first time they’ve played UGA in a regular season match since 1987, when UVA traveled to Sanford Stadium for another season opener. Kirby Smart will hope to hold Georgia’s 9-7-3 edge in this series against Bronco Mendenhall, who has steadily improved Virginia from 2-10 in 2016 to 9-4 in 2019.

East Tennessee State

ETSU Bucs - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Saturday, September 12, 2020
Sanford Stadium – Athens, GA

In 2020, the Buccaneers will celebrate the 100th anniversary of their football program, but they might have to pause the party for a bit when they travel from Johnson City to Athens on Sept. 12. ETSU, which was coached by former Georgia QB and coach Mike Cavan from 1992-1996, competes in the Southern Conference, part of the Football Championship Subdivision.

University of Alabama

Alabama Crimson Tide - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Saturday, September 19, 2020
Bryant-Denny Stadium – Tuscaloosa, AL

The last time the Georgia Bulldogs went to Tuscaloosa, they left on an overtime, game-winning bomb from Matt Stafford to Mikey Henderson. Since then, however, things have been all Bama in this series, which stands at 40-25-4 all-time in the Crimson Tide’s favor. Any trip to Bryant-Denny is difficult, but this one could be especially daunting, as it will be a marquee matchup and a conference opener for both teams. Kirby will attempt, once again, to become the first of Nick Saban’s assistants-turned-head-coaches to beat the legend.

University of Louisiana-Monroe

ULM Warhawks - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Saturday, September 26, 2020
Sanford Stadium – Athens, GA

The ULM Warhawks, of the Sun Belt Conference, return to the Classic City for the first time since 2015, when Georgia defeated them 51-14. The Bulldogs are 4-0 against the Warhawks, never winning by fewer than 37 points, but the Dawgs would be foolish to sleepwalk through this one—Louisiana-Monroe is no stranger to upsets against the SEC, notching wins against Kentucky in 1994, Mississippi State in 1995, Alabama in 2007 and Arkansas in 2012.

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt Commodores - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Saturday, October 3, 2020
Sanford Stadium – Athens, GA

The ‘Dores and the Dawgs face-off Between The Hedges for their 81st meeting. This series has been one-sided for decades, with the Bulldogs winning 43 of the last 50 contests. Still, Kirby is 3-1 against Vandy and Derek Mason is good for one or two upsets a year, so UGA will need to give an honest effort to make sure they don’t give Vanderbilt a reason to extend Mason’s contract.

Auburn University

Auburn Tigers - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Saturday, October 10, 2020
Sanford Stadium – Athens, GA

It’s been 83 years since the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry was held in October—back when the game was held in Columbus, GA! The final game in this three-game home stand is a big one: Georgia’s 125th game against the Auburn Tigers. The last 15 contests against the Plainsmen have favored the Dawgs: UGA is 12-3 since 2006, a record that would likely surprise most of Bulldog Nation. In that same time period, though, the Bulldogs have never gone more than 4 games without giving one up to the Tigers. After winning three in a row, can Kirby keep the streak alive, or will shouts of War Eagle drown out the Chapel Bell?

University of Missouri

Missouri Tigers - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Saturday, October 17, 2020
Faurot Field – Columbia, MO

Since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012, the Tigers have only managed one win in eight games against the Bulldogs. But those games all saw either Gary Pinkel or Barry Odom at the helm for Mizzou, and now head coach Eli Drinkwitz will lead the Tigers. Drinkwitz served in various assistant roles for over a decade at a variety of schools before taking over the Appalachian State Mountaineers last season. In his one season at App State, his team set a Sun Belt record for wins (12), won the conference and became the first-ever Sun Belt program to earn a Top 20 ranking in the AP poll.

University of Florida

Florida Gators - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Saturday, October 31, 2020
TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville, FL

Whenever Georgia-Florida falls on Halloween, it feels appropriate: hordes of scaly reptiles assemble, draped in rags of garish orange and blue. The good guys in red and black will fight to extend Georgia’s win streak to 4, which would be the longest streak in this series in over a decade. Dan Mullen has steadily improved the Gators since his arrival in 2018, and our last game was decided by a single touchdown, so this figures to be yet another hotly contested match on the bank of the St. Johns River.

University of South Carolina

South Carolina GamecocksSouth Carolina Gamecocks - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020
Williams-Brice Stadium – Columbia, SC

The Dawgs will travel to their second Columbia of the year with one thing in mind: revenge. The 2019 USC-UGA game set off a wave of soul-searching and second-guessing that still lingers in the minds of many Bulldog fans and, ultimately, became the reason Georgia was kept out of the College Football Playoff. Despite UGA holding a massive advantage in the all-time series (51-19-2), this game now looms large for the Dawgs. But with former Georgia QB and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo joining former Bulldogs Will Muschamp, Bryan McClendon and Thomas Brown, the Gamecocks could have a rejuvenated offense, so the South Carolina of 2020 may be more difficult than the 2019 edition.

University of Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers - 2020 Georgia Football Schedule

Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020
Sanford Stadium – Athens, GA

After a month away, the Bulldogs return to Sanford Stadium to meet the violently-orange Tennessee Volunteers. The unchecked UT dominance of the 90s has waned ever since Verron Haynes planted a hobnail boot into the checkered endzone of Neyland Stadium: Georgia is 13-6 against the Vols since 2001, and our last three contests have been decided by an average of 32 points. That said, after their loss to the Dawgs this season, Tennessee reeled off a 6-1 record—an impressive feat after early season losses to BYU and Georgia State. If Jeremy Pruitt has gotten the Volunteers to turn a corner—and with a season’s worth of additional experience prior to their trip to Athens—Tennessee could give UGA much more of a game this go-round.

University of Kentucky

Kentucky Wildcats - 2020 UGA Football Schedule

Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020
Kroger Field – Lexington, KY

After a 10-3 year in 2018, Mark Stoops’ Wildcats regressed a bit in 2019 with a 7-5 record. This was mostly expected, as the Cats lost a number of all-timers on both sides of the ball to the NFL Draft. Kentucky loses another playmaker this year in Lynn Bowden, the dynamic WR/QB who gave defenses fits. Well, MOST defenses: Georgia handled Bowden and Kentucky in a miserable, soggy game this year. However, when UGA arrives in Lexington in 2020, UK (and most notably, their impressive recruiting class) will have had a season’s worth of experience and could give the Dawgs some trouble.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - 2020 UGA Football Schedule

Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020
Sanford Stadium – Athens, GA

First, let’s state the obvious: Tech was in a major transitional state in 2019, and the results on the field reflected this. They will be better in 2020. But a 45-point margin of defeat leaves a lot of room for the Yellow Jackets to get better and still lose to the Dawgs. Geoff Collins enters his second year at Bobby Dodd Stadium with a solid recruiting class… and that’s about it. However, if Collins’ reclamation project begins to yield results and the Jackets enjoy the “Year 2 Effect”—programs often see great improvement in a coach’s second year—then we might see Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate start to resemble a rivalry once again.

Take a look back at the 2019 season by subscribing to the UGA Alumni YouTube channel and watching every episode of The Jerry Tanner Show!

UGA alumnus awarded Schwarzman Scholarship

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This story was written by Stephanie Schupska and originally ran on UGA Today on December 4, 2019.

University of Georgia alumnus Shaun Kleber (AB ’16, AB ’16, AB ’16) was one of 148 candidates selected internationally as a Schwarzman Scholar, a graduate fellowship designed to prepare the next generation of leaders with an understanding of China’s role in global trends.

Kleber is UGA’s fifth Schwarzman Scholar. The incoming Class of 2021 was narrowed down from a pool of more than 4,700 candidates from China, the U.S. and around the world. It includes students from 41 countries and 108 universities.

Five classes of Schwarzman Scholars have been named since the highly competitive program opened to applicants in 2015. The fully funded, yearlong master’s program in global affairs is offered at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Students live and learn on the Schwarzman College campus and focus their studies on public policy, economics and business, or international studies.

“I am delighted that Shaun has received this prestigious recognition,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “The University of Georgia’s record of success in this international competition is evidence of the outstanding education we provide to our students and how well we prepare them for success beyond graduation.”

Kleber graduated from UGA in 2016 with bachelor’s degrees in international affairs, political science and economics. A Foundation Fellow and Honors Program alumnus, he spent two years with McKinsey & Company as a business analyst before transitioning to work with City Year, an AmeriCorps program, through which he served as a student success coach in Detroit. He is now a team leader with City Year in Boston and supervises student success coaches at UP Academy Boston, developing tailored strategies for student achievement.

After he completes his year as a Schwarzman Scholar, Kleber will attend Harvard Law School. He plans to pursue a career in education policy and public education administration.

“I met Shaun when he was in high school, and I enjoyed getting the chance to work closely with him while he was a student at UGA,” said David S. Williams, associate provost and director of the Honors Program. “It has been clear all along that he is destined to make a very positive impact on society.”

Kleber’s focus is on education, leadership and policy, with the goal of becoming a national leader in public education. In his time with City Year and in his internship while in college with the superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, he confronted issues such as intergenerational poverty, segregated neighborhoods and insufficient access to basic resources.

Currently, he is working to unlock the potential of individuals through education, he said, before ultimately working to unlock the potential of the American South through both public education and public policy.

“The Schwarzman Scholars program prepares and connects future global leaders, and that makes it the perfect fit for Shaun,” said Jessica Hunt, UGA’s major scholarships coordinator. “He made a profound impact on our campus as an undergraduate, and he has already demonstrated a remarkable commitment to building community in Detroit, Atlanta and Boston. He will no doubt do the same during his year in Beijing as a Schwarzman Scholar.”

UGA’s previous Schwarzman Scholars are UGA alumni Torre Lavelle (BS ’16), Elizabeth Hardister (AB ’18, MPH ’18) and Gabrielle Pierre (BSENVE ’17, MEPD ’18) and Swapnil Agrawal (AB ’19, AB ’19).

For more information on Schwarzman Scholars, visit www.schwarzmanscholars.org.

Heading to ‘The Big Easy’ for the game? Check out these Bulldog recommendations!

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Our New Orleans Alumni Chapter leaders recommended a few things to do while you’re in the Big Easy for the Sugar Bowl. See below for their suggestions!
 

RESTAURANTS

MODERN

  • Coquette – 2018 James Beard “Best Chef-South” nominee, Mike Stolzfus, and Kristen Essig
  • Compere Lapin — 2018 James Beard “Best Chef-South” winner, Nina Compton
  • Saba – 2015 James Beard “Best Chef-South” winner, Alon Shaya
  • Willa Jean
  • La Petite Grocery

OLD SCHOOL

PO-BOYS

SEAFOOD

 

ACTIVITIES

MUSEUMS, TOURS, PARKS

SHOPPING, WATERING HOLES, MUSIC

 

BREWERIES

 

NIGHTLIFE

 

TRAVEL PACKAGE

Have tickets to the Sugar Bowl and need help with travel? Consider purchasing a Georgia Bulldogs Sports Travel package.

Whether you’re traveling to New Orleans to catch the Allstate Sugar Bowl in person or are planning to attend a game-watching party in your hometown, peek at our comprehensive list of events to help you cheer on the Dawgs from wherever you are on January 1.

The Jerry Tanner Show – Baylor/Sugar Bowl

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As 2019 college football nears its unfortunate end, Jerry tries to help you navigate through a post-LSU-blowout world, the silly season of coaching changes, and the upcoming Sugar Bowl against the Baylor Bears. Plus, some tips for the offseason!
Feel like a student again at Alumni Weekend. Sign up at alumni.uga.edu/weekend and come home for the weekend.
Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

An interview with Sally Williamson (ABJ ’83)

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Sally Williamson

Sally Williamson, Founder and CEO of Sally Williamson & Associates

Sally Williamson (ABJ ’83) has made a name for herself in the communication business.

With 30 years of experience to her name, Sally is the founder and president of the Atlanta-based Sally Williamson & Associates. Focusing on the spoken side of communication, the company is approaching 20 years of executive coaching, consulting, workshops and more to create effective workplace communicators.

The company has published three books that detail her practices’ beliefs: The Hidden Factor: Executive Presence, Leading Executive Conversations, and Storylines and Storytelling: What They Remember and Repeat.  The group has also started a podcast that features female leaders across the business world, with stories from executives at companies like Delta and TD Bank.

Alumni Association: How would you describe your business to someone who is unfamiliar with it?

Sally Williamson: We’re a communication consulting group that helps people influence and impact others through effective communication practices.

AA: How did you get into consulting like this?

SW: I was a journalism school graduate. I was intrigued by messaging in business and thought that I would start out on a public relations track. Instead, I got closer to the communicators and learned the foundational skills of personal delivery and presence.  That’s oversimplifying it, but eventually I brought the two concepts together in executive coaching.

AA: What inspired you to create your own business?

SW: I worked in the training field and saw both the strengths and limitations of a set curriculum.  I was always more intrigued by how people used skills once they left a training program versus how well they did in a workshop. And, I learned that most training formats were weak on the application of skills. I saw an opportunity to blend training with coaching and ensure that skills are applicable in any business setting.

And, that’s what my firm is known for: the customization of training, the added coaching elements and the expertise to understand and solve for the expectations of listeners.

AA: What inspired the start of your podcast?

Sally Williamson

What’s Your Story with Sally Williamson is a podcast that centers on leadership and storytelling.

SW: Two years ago, we released our third book which is called “Storylines and Storytelling: What They Remember and Repeat.” For two years, I did research on how stories are used in business and the skills of a good storyteller. I coined the phrase “the master storyteller” and developed the tools to help anyone become one.

The podcast was a natural outgrowth of that. It’s called “What’s Your Story,” and people who come on the podcast talk about stories in business and how they use stories to make points memorable and repeatable.

AA: Any favorite episodes?

SW: All of them! Don’t want to play favorites. What I love about it is that when we send people an outline for the podcast, they think they’re going to talk about their stories in their business and how they’ve leveraged storytelling to motivate a team, promote a product or position a brand. Ultimately, they reveal themselves as storytellers. And, that’s fun to explore. We’re asking leaders to talk about stories, but they actually illustrate their skills as storyteller.

AA: How do you think your time at UGA impacted your career?

SW: I’m sure my early days relied on technical skills to learn writing disciplines and headlines. But the more long-term impact has been the connection back to the school as a professional. I’ve enjoyed being a part of the Bulldog 100 program for small businesses, and love the opportunities to go back on campus to support programs around professional development.

AA: What advice would you give to a student looking for their first job in the communications field?

SW: Make sure that what you tackle first is experience more than stature. Don’t worry so much about the prestige of the brand you go to work for, or the starting title or role they give you. Put yourself in a position where you can get as much experience as you can and a frontline view of what is really happening around you. It’s the experience you get in the first job that gets you to the second or the third one. I think that’s especially true in public relations and communications – if you can show that you’ve done the work, rather than just been around the work, it makes a huge difference in what you have an opportunity to do next. People in public relations and communications get hired based on experience. What have you done? What do you know how to do?

AA: What are you most proud of, or what has your greatest success been?

SW: There have been many just as there have been many challenges. Success to me is based on how the business has evolved. We’ve been able to take what started as my thoughts and beliefs and grow it into a shared set of tools and skills that a team leverages. I’m proud of that, and that SW&A has become a place where others have developed an expertise and deliver great work. In the last three years, my son has joined the business and that suggests that our product and our work will outlive me.

Condor-Chocolates-Blog-Header

15 Bulldog 100 businesses to visit in Athens

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Condor-Chocolates-Blog-Header

Athens is a fantastic place to visit. Whether you’re in town on a gameday or for a weekend getaway, there is no shortage of fun to be had in the Classic City. Athens boasts a slew of Bulldog-owned or -operated businesses, many of which have made the Bulldog 100 list over the years. Next time you are town, be sure to support the alumni entrepreneurs behind these successful businesses.  

 And be sure to check out the complete 2020 Bulldog 100 list–there might be a business you can support in your own hometown!

SAUCEHOUSE BBQ

2018 and 2019 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

Check out Saucehouse BBQ for a fun, inviting and authentic BBQ experience. They offer a variety of BBQ sauces and made-from-scratch food that will have you screaming … “it’s the best BBQ anywhere!” 

Location:

830 W. Broad Street

Owned/Operated By:

Christopher Belk (AB ’05, MBA ’13)

Website:

saucehouse.com 

 

CHICKEN SALAD CHICK

2017, 2018 and 2019 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

They love chicken salad—as if you hadn’t guessed from their name—and they serve up more than a dozen tasty flavors every day.  

Location:

196 Alps Road 

Owned/Operated By:

Scott Deviney (AB ’95) 

Website:

chickensaladchick.com

 

CONDOR CHOCOLATES

2019 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE  

Brothers Nick and Peter Dale, born, raised and educated in Athens, own and operate Condor Chocolates located in the historic Five Points neighborhood of Athens. They produce and sell bean-to-bar chocolate bars, truffles, sipping chocolate, hot cocoa, coffee, iced beverages, gelato and a variety of confections. 

Location:

1658 S. Lumpkin Street

Owned/Operated By:

Nicholas Dale (BSA ’04), Peter Dale (ABJ ’99)

Website:

condorchocolates.com

 

SOUTHLAND ORGANICS

2019 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

Southland Organics helps farmers and landscape professionals overcome bacterial challenges and nutrient deficiencies. They work to enhance landscapes by eliminating harmful microbes, and delivering vibrant color and health to your crops.  

Location:

189 Luke Road (Bogart) 

Owned/Operated By:

Mike Usry (BSED ’99) 

Website:

southlandorganics.com

 

ONWARD RESERVE

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE 

Onward Reserve aims to live authentically. This menswear store, with locations in and outside of Athens, has everything from button-downs to coolers.  

Location:

146 E. Clayton Street

Owned/Operated By:

TJ Callaway (BBA ’07) 

Website:

onwardreserve.com

  

YOUR PIE FRANCHISING LLC

2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE 

Inspired by the Italian culture, Your Pie invites customers to experience the art of making their own pizza.  

Location:

196 Alps Road (Athens) // 1430 Capital Avenue (Watkinsville)

Owned/Operated By:

Drew French (BBA ’05), Bucky Cook (BBA ’77), Allen French (BS ’77)

Website:

yourpie.com

  

AVID BOOKSHOP

2017, 2018 and 2019 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

Avid Bookshop is an independent, community-focused bookstore with two locations in Athens. Avid aims to be a safe space for locals, while standing up for human rights, equality and the freedom to read.  

Location:

1662 S. Lumpkin Street // 493 Prince Avenue

Owned/Operated By:

Janet Geddis (MED ’06) 

Website:

avidbookshop.com

 

EXTRA SPECIAL PEOPLE

2017 and 2018 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE 

ESP creates opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families to engage, connect and thrive. When you visit, check out where ESP’s Java Joy team is serving coffee and a smile.

Location:

189 VFW Drive

Owned/Operated By:

Laura Whitaker (BSED ’07, MED ’10) 

Website:

extraspecialpeople.com

 

CHEEKY PEACH BOUTIQUE

2016, 2017 and 2018 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

Cheeky Peach is a local boutique with the goal of creating a shopping experience that makes customers feel good about themselves. Cheeky Peach’s style is fearless, authentic and fashion-forward.  

Location:

160 W. Clayton Street

Owned/Operated By:

Katie Jacobs (ABJ ’05), Jason Jacobs (BS ’10) 

Website:

shopcheekypeach.com

 

THE SIGN BROTHERS

2018 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

What started as a sibling-run company has now become a larger team dedicated to bringing its customers’ ideas to life. The Sign Brothers design, produce and install the highest quality signs and graphics.

Location:

195 Ben Burton Circle (Bogart)

Owned/Operated By:

Justin Seibert (BSA ’02) 

Website:

thesignbros.com

  

ENTOURAGE CLOTHING & GIFTS 

2016, 2017 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

Entourage was founded on the belief that you don’t have to spend a million to look like a million. They are always changing, and always in style.

Location:

2095 S. Milledge Avenue

Owned/Operated By:

Katie Nichols (BSFCS ’05) 

Website:

entourageclothing.com

 

PAWTROPOLIS

2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

Pawtropolis is your source for all things pets. Their mission is to create an environment where your cat or dog is safe, happy and mentally stimulated. 

Location:

130 Whitetail Way (Bogart)

Owned/Operated By:

Amanda Rodriguez Crook (BS ’01), John Crook (BS ’02) 

Website:

pawtropolis.com

   

AGORA VINTAGE

2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

This family-owned, vintage consignment shop has been serving the Athens community for over 20 years. Agora sells quality, designer goods at a fraction of the price. 

Location:

233 E. Broad Street

Owned/Operated By:

Airee Edwards (AB ’99), Russell Edwards (JD ’10) 

Website:

agoravintageshop.com

 

TERRAPIN BEER COMPANY

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

Inspired by the creative culture of Athens, Terrapin is always adding quality craft beers to its lineup. Terrapin’s mission is to create unique experiences through passionate brewing. 

Location:

265 Newton Bridge Road

Owned/Operated By:

John Cochran (BBA ’93), Dustin Watts (BBA ’03), Irina Melnik Cochran (BBA ’93) 

Website:

terrapinbeer.com

 

NUÇI’S SPACE 

2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 BULLDOG 100 HONOREE

Nuçi’s Space is a musician’s resource center fighting to end the epidemic of suicide and the stigma surrounding mental illness. Whether you are seeking support for your own well-being, for a loved one or for a friend, you don’t have to do it alone. They are here to help. 

Location:

396 Oconee Street

Owned/Operated By:

Bob Sleppy (BS ’05, MBA ’10) 

Website:

nuci.org

 

Don’t go bacon my heart: alumni-owned breakfast spots

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Trying to decide where to eat breakfast or brunch during your next visit to Athens (maybe even for Alumni Weekend)? Why not check out an alumni-owned restaurant, such as …

Athens Bagel Company

Owner: David Asman (BS ’08)
Location: 268 N. Jackson Street
Fun Fact: Athens Bagel Company sells nitro mimosas on draft.

“When I go to Athens Bagel, I get to eat good food and support a local business, which I love.” – Zoe Maher ’21  

Heirloom Café and Fresh Market

Owner: Jessica Rothacker (AB ’03)
Location: 815 N. Chase Street
Fun Fact: Heirloom is run by a father-daughter team.

“My favorite thing to get at Heirloom is the ‘doscuit holes!’ Biscuits as donuts? You can’t go wrong.” – Caitlyn Richtman (AB ’19, AB ’19) 

 

Photo from @homemadeathens on Instagram

 

Last Resort Grill

Owner: Melissa Clegg (BBA ’88)
Location: 174-184 W. Clayton Street
Fun Fact: Jimmy Buffet performed at Last Resort before it transitioned from music club to restaurant.

“The three-cheese bacon omelet is to die for!” – Austin Grant ’22  

 

Mama’s Boy

Co-owner: Cooper Hudson (ABJ ’98)
Co-owner: Alicia Segars (AB ’93)
Original Location: 197 Oak Street
Fun Fact: Mama’s Boy has a second location at The Falls(8851 Macon Highway, Suite 403)

Check out Sam Flexner’s Haiku below!

 

Photo from @theplaceathens on Instagram

The Place

Co-owner: Alan Pope (AB ’08)
Co-owner: Ryan Pope (BBA ’09)
Location: 229 E. Broad Street
Fun Fact: The Place is named after the owner’s grandfather’s car dealership.

“The chicken and waffles at The Place are my favorite.” – Maggie Cavalenes ’20 

 

Photo from @zombiecoffeeanddonuts on Instagram

Zombie Coffee & Donuts

Owner: Tony Raffa (BBA ’16)
Location: 350 E. Broad Street
Fun Fact: Each month, Zombie donates 5% of gross profits to local nonprofits–often departments or programs on campus!

“Zombie has tons of different toppings to choose from. There’s something for everyone!” – Julia Strother ’20  

We love celebrating UGA alumni, especially when they open delicious restaurants. On your next visit to the Classic City—to attend a football game, meet your student mentee or attend Alumni Weekend—we hope you’ll start your day at one of these eateries. 

University of Georgia crossword puzzle

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The first crossword puzzle ran in New York World on December 21, 1913, and was created by Arthur Wynne. Other newspapers began to run crossword puzzles shortly after, and the rest is history. Crossword puzzles now test our minds in newspapers, books, and more.

The University of Georgia’s independent newspaper, The Red & Black, publishes daily crossword puzzles online and in print on Thursdays, much to the delight of students seeking a distraction from their homework.

For many alumni, the R&B crossword was a daily endeavor on the bus and in (-between) classes. In honor of this little piece of UGA nostalgia, we designed a special UGA-themed crossword puzzle for you, our alumni and friends, to enjoy–after your homework is done, of course. See if you and your friends can get the answers correctly without peeking at the answers! Pro tip: we hope you remember the names of bus routes, dorms and dining halls.

Crozzword Puzzle and Answers

Employee engagement a key to success, says nonprofit leader

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This story was originally posted to the UGA School of Social Work website on Oct. 24, 2019, and was written by Adelia Henderson.

When it comes to running a successful organization, concepts like determination and loyalty often come to mind. But sometimes, a key to success can be something as small as switching out flooring.

Pamela Landwirth (AB ’73), found this out during the bi-annual ‘Cookies and Conversation’ meetings she holds with her staff at Give Kids the World Village, a nonprofit retreat in central Florida for children with critical illnesses and their families.

Landwirth, president and CEO of the organization, spoke about nonprofit leadership and management on Oct. 11 at Studio 225, the new University of Georgia Student Center for Entrepreneurship. The event was sponsored by the UGA School of Social Work. She said when she first started at Give Kids the World Village in 1992, there were only 32 villas and less than 40 employees, so interaction with all the employees was easy.

However, as the Village began to grow, Landwirth said she started “Cookies and Conversation” to stay engaged with employees on that micro level.

“Money is not a motivator,” she said. “But when you ask a housekeeper how you can make their job easier, and they say ‘take out the carpet’, and you put in tile, that’s when you get them more engaged.”

“They feel like you value them; you’re listening to them, and you’re doing something about it.”

Currently, Give Kids the World Village has 166 villas and more than 7,000 families that visit each year from 76 different countries. In Landwirth’s new book, “On Purpose: How Engagement Drives Success,” she outlines how practicing engagement is a key component to maintaining a successful organization.

“The beauty of engagement is that it doesn’t cost any money. It’s not the big parties, it’s not going out and giving raises,” Landwirth said. “Engagement boils down to leadership. There are very few things that have the impact that leadership does.”

Prior to working at Give Kids the World Village, Landwirth spent 16 years with the Walt Disney Company, working in various areas such as casting, attractions sales and park operations. She was then a consultant to the president and CEO of Hard Rock Café.

Give Kids the World Village provides children with life-threatening illnesses and their families a cost-free, week-long vacation to enjoy Orlando’s theme parks. Of each dollar they spend, about 93.1 cents goes directly to programs for the families such as accommodations, meals, tickets and transportation.

Landwirth said she employs a certain formula at the Village in order to maximize success.

“Quality staff experience, plus quality guest experience, plus quality stakeholder experience, plus quality business practices is what we have to focus on for success,” she said. “If any of those legs on the stool are not in sync, the whole thing will fall apart.”

Landwirth advised students interested in the nonprofit sector to take as many business classes as possible, to gain experience that will help them succeed when partnering with corporations, as when Landwirth spearheaded a partnership with the company Hasbro that brought the world’s largest game of Candyland to Give Kids the World Village.

She believes that, in a time where differences tend to pull people apart, it is vital for businesses to appreciate their employees for who they are and give them the resources needed to develop their individual gifts.

“Imagine if you worked for a company that not only helped you define your gifts, but then gave you outlets internally and externally to give those gifts away, how much more engagement we would have in the world,” Landwirth said.

“Our staff and volunteers come together for a common purpose because they want to be a part of something bigger,” she said.

“That’s what I’m hoping the book and discussions like this will do, to help us focus on those things that pull us together, and less on the things that pull us apart.”

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The Jerry Tanner Show, Episode 13 – LSU/SEC Championship

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Unstoppable force vs. immovable object. LSU vs. Georgia. Time to get revenge for 2018. Maybe. Hopefully. Please.

Feel like a student again at Alumni Weekend. Sign up at alumni.uga.edu/weekend and come home for the weekend.

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.